Sessions XVIII - XX

General Summary

Some days later, the group is approached in the Red Moon Inn by Moritz, a servant of the powerful von Bruner family, who own the largest home - if one might call their palace that - in the city, requesting they come over for a job opportunity. 
Meeting with Gutele von Bruner, a young noblewoman, they are told of her robbery at her hands at none other than the mythical Fishrook - a Robin Hood-esque robber who steals from the dishonest, who she seems to be awfully charmed by. She promises a crown a day for each of them as they actively investigate this matter for them, with the promise of ten more crowns if the Fishrook is delivered to her alive - stressing she very much does not want the brigand dead! 
With this, they are given the names of various people in town that were also, apparently, robbed by the Fishrook. Convincing her (without much effort) to send Moritz along with them (much to his dismay), they set out, inquiring around town about the return of this highwayman - quite the popular tale in Ubersreik once again now. The Fishrook is either a very large and impressive figure, with a gang of brigands to accompany him, or working on his own, and a waifish figure, with either a spectral, ghostly appearance (having been hanged several centuries ago) or being rather mundane, with the smell of a lady's perfume on him. 
With the Gravin Maria-Ulrike's coach, the group takes the road towards Bögenhafen, on which the robberies have taken place, but encounter nothing and they stay the night in Karstadt at the Ye Olde Coachman Inn, spreading rumours that they are to travel to Ubersreik with a valuable cargo in the hopes of luring the Fishrook out. On their return the following day, they are not stopped, however, and thus they opt to come to a halt at the Griffon and Hammer, a ruined inn just outside of the village of Sigmartempel that the Fishrook used to spend his time at - the gallows from which he was hanged still standing by the courtyard, a loose rope dangling in the wind. 
After some searching around, they find the old cellar of the inn, with a lady's riding coat and a fanciful hat hidden away in an alcove, before they can hear someone approaching and clambering inside... none other than the Fishrook! After a brief Mexica- Estalian standoff, a fight erupts and the Fishrook is swiftly taken down from their injuries. With the mask lifted, the brigand turns out to be none other than Gutele von Bruner herself, who got a little too into the story having read it, and decided to go out and reenact some things to ward off boredom - in exchange for their payment as promised, the group promises to be quiet and in fact spread a tale of how she faced the Fishrook on a bridge and defeated the fearsome criminal, thus doing no harm to her reputation (the opposite!) and explaining her injuries, and gaining a potentially useful ally in the process.

Report Date

12 Feb 2022